Dunne’s previous contract with WWE was set to expire at the end of last month.
Dunne will be one of four wrestlers vying for the vacant NXT Championship tonight. Dunne will face Tommaso Ciampa, Kyle O’Reilly, and LA Knight in a fatal four-way match for the title on tonight’s NXT. The show will mark the start of “NXT 2.0,” the newly revamped version of the brand.
Dunne vs. Ciampa vs. O’Reilly vs. Knight was originally announced as a number one contender’s match to determine the first challenger for Samoa Joe’s NXT Championship, but Joe had to vacate the title due to injury. Joe said he’d be back shortly to collect the NXT Championship from whoever wins it.
In 2017, Dunne made his WWE debut as part of the United Kingdom Championship tournament. He’s a former NXT United Kingdom Champion and NXT Tag Team Champion.
A new NXT Champion will be crowned this Tuesday night.
With Samoa Joe vacating the title, WWE has announced that the winner of Pete Dunne, Tommaso Ciampa, Kyle O’Reilly, and LA Knight’s fatal four-way match on Tuesday’s episode of NXT will become the new NXT Champion. The four-way match was originally supposed to determine a number one contender to Joe’s title.
Joe posted a video on Sunday night announcing that he was relinquishing the NXT Championship effective immediately. Joe said that, due to certain injuries, WWE medical informed him that they’d like him to step away from the ring for a “brief but still indeterminate” amount of time.
Joe said he’d be back shortly to collect the NXT Championship from whoever wins it.
At TakeOver 36 last month, Joe defeated Karrion Kross to win the NXT Championship. Joe was then confronted by Dunne, O’Reilly, and Knight on the post-TakeOver episode of NXT. Ciampa also got involved in that segment and fought with Dunne and Ridge Holland.
NXT’s revamp will kick off with this week’s episode. The revamp is being called “NXT 2.0.”
Here’s the updated lineup for Tuesday’s episode:
Fatal four-way match to determine new NXT Champion: Pete Dunne vs. Tommaso Ciampa vs. Kyle O’Reilly vs. LA Knight
NXT Women’s Champion Raquel Gonzalez defends against Franky Monet
A fatal four-way number one contender’s match will determine the first challenger for Samoa Joe’s NXT Championship.
Tommaso Ciampa, Kyle O’Reilly, LA Knight, and Pete Dunne will face off in an NXT Championship number one contender’s match on NXT next Tuesday. The announcement was made by general manager William Regal on tonight’s episode of the show.
Joe defeated Karrion Kross to win the NXT Championship at TakeOver 36 last month. It’s Joe’s third NXT Championship reign. His first two reigns with the title were in 2016.
Dunne, Knight, and O’Reilly all confronted Joe on NXT following his title win. Ciampa also got involved and fought with Dunne and Ridge Holland.
Ciampa defeated Holland on NXT last week, Knight defeated Johnny Gargano, and O’Reilly defeated Duke Hudson.
WWE has also announced that NXT Women’s Champion Raquel Gonzalez will defend her title against Franky Monet on NXT next Tuesday. Plus, the show will feature the wedding of Indi Hartwell & Dexter Lumis.
Next week’s NXT will mark the official start of the brand’s revamp. It will include the debut of NXT’s new logo and a new look for the Capitol Wrestling Center being revealed.
According to a report, another top WWE NXT name is about to hit free agency.
Fightful Select reported on their Patreon page today that Pete Dunne’s WWE contract is set to expire in the near future. The report cites one source as saying that Dunne’s deal is up after SummerSlam weekend, but clarifies that they are working to confirm that detail.
Fightful’s report also states that they are uncertain if Dunne’s contract situation is similar to Adam Cole’s, in that Cole’s deal reportedly expired last month, but he agreed to continue on through SummerSlam weekend in the form of a short-term extension. Cole’s contract expiration was reportedly a surprise to top WWE brass, as they were under the impression that he was signed for a longer period of time.
Dunne, 27, made his WWE debut in 2017 at the inaugural WWE United Kingdom Championship Tournament. He would make it to the finals of the tournament before losing to Tyler Bate in the match that crowned the first WWE United Kingdom Champion.
Dunne was the longest-reigning WWE United Kingdom Champion with a run of 685 days with the title. That title was later renamed the NXT United Kingdom Championship, and Walter would go on to surpass Dunne’s mark.
Dunne would later team with Matt Riddle as the BroserWeights in NXT. They would capture the NXT Tag Team Championship once, in addition to winning the 2020 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic.
In Your House returns for the second straight year as NXT TakeOver takes place tonight.
The show will be headlined by Karrion Kross defending his NXT Championship against Kyle O’Reilly, Pete Dunne, Johnny Gargano, and Adam Cole in a fatal five-way match. A match between O’Reilly, Dunne, and Gargano was originally supposed to determine Kross’ challenger, but Cole made his return to NXT TV and put a stop to the match. Kross later declared that he wanted to face all four challengers.
Three other title matches are also set for TakeOver: In Your House. Ember Moon will challenge for Raquel Gonzalez’s NXT Women’s Championship, the revived Million Dollar Championship will be on the line in a ladder match between Cameron Grimes and LA Knight, and there will be a winner-take-all six-man tag match with NXT North American Champion Bronson Reed & NXT Tag Team Champions MSK facing Legado del Fantasma.
Mercedes Martinez vs. Xia Li rounds out the TakeOver card. Li is looking to avenge her loss from the 2017 Mae Young Classic.
Todd Pettengill will return as the host of TakeOver: In Your House. The event will begin at 8 p.m. Eastern time, with there also being a pre-show starting at 7:30 p.m. Eastern.
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Show Report —
The pre-show featured the typical mix of talking head analysis and promo packages. There was an “earlier today” segment involving participants in the five-way main event.
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Naomi Fox performed a song to open the show.
Former WWE backstage interviewer Todd Pettengill is the host of the show. He announced the largest gathering of fans yet in the Capitol Wrestling Center.
Winner Take All match for the NXT North American Championship and NXT Tag Team Championships: Bronson Reed (c) & MSK (Wes Lee & Nash Carter) (c) defeated Legado Del Fantasma (Santos Escobar, Raul Mendoza, & Joaquin Wilde) (13:41)
This was good, solid six-man tag action.
Lee and Mendoza started with a rapid-fire exchange. Carter and Wilde were next, with Wilde hitting a nice springboard arm drag. He showboated, however, and received a kick for his trouble. Escobar tagged in and faced off with Carter, but Carter tagged in Reed. Escobar retreated and tagged in Mendoza.
Mendoza used some high flying, but Reed shrugged off a series of clotheslines before leveling Mendoza with one of his own. Reed hit his sit-down splash, but Escobar had blind tagged in and hit a soccer kick. Reed took him down with a crossbody before planting Wilde with a press slam.
MSK hit frequent tags, with a somersault senton from Lee getting two. Reed hit an assisted senton for two more. The champs continued to dominate Wilde until Escobar finally made a tag. Carter hit an Orihara moonsault out on the floor, but Wilde took Carter out with a dive. Lee and Mendoza hit dives of their own, building to the big man Reed taking everyone out with a tope.
Back in the ring, MSK tried to hit a double team, but Legado del Fantasma pulled Carter out of the ring, allowing Escobar to take Lee out. A top-rope hurricanrana from Escobar got two, as did an assisted 450 from Wilde. Lee finally escaped to Reed for a tag.
Reed ran wild on all of Legado del Fantasma, including a double Samoan drop on Wilde and Mendoza. Reed wanted Escobar to tag in, but Wilde took him out from behind. Escobar tagged in and hit a Michinoku Driver, but Carter broke up the pin. Wilde and Mendoza hit a high low on Carter, but Wes Lee dove in to break up the pin.
Escobar grabbed the belt at ringside but was blindsided with a running splash from Reed, sending him through the barricade at ringside. A Mendoza dive was cut off with a superkick, then MSK hit an assisted blockbuster. Reed pulled the straps down and hit the Tsunami splash to win and retain.
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Kyle O’Reilly was interviewed earlier today, saying “it’s a good day for a fight.” Johnny Gargano and The Way arrived at the same time, goading O’Reilly into a fight and forcing officials and William Regal to break it up.
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A comedy segment aired where Pettengill was trying to cut to a video using a VHS tape. The video recapped Mercedes Martinez defeating Xia Li in the Mae Young Classic four years ago.
Xia Li (w/ Boa) defeated Mercedes Martinez (7:39)
This was maybe the least spectacular match in TakeOver history. It was short, very little happened, and the finish came completely out of nowhere.
Li took the fight to Martinez right away, but Martinez took her down with a backdrop and a fallaway slam. Li dragged Martinez to the floor and pushed her shoulder-first into the ring post. She continued to target Martinez’s shoulder, including with a running dropkick that sent Martinez to the floor.
They traded strikes in the ring, with Li maintaining control with kicks and knees. Martinez came back with a butterfly suplex, but Li regained control with an exploder. Martinez avoided a corner attack and hit a Cliffhanger for two. She followed it up with repeated knees.
Boa pulled Li out of the ring, preventing further attack. Martinez pushed him aside and countered a running attack with a back body drop on the floor. Back in the ring, a cyclone kick from Li surprised Martinez for the win.
– After the match, Boa threw Li a chair, but when she was about to use it, Martinez kicked her legs out from under her. Martinez grabbed the chair and hit both Boa and Li with it.
Li’s entrance effects showed up and Mei Ying appeared in her throne on the ramp. She and Martinez stared each other down until Ying grabbed Martinez by the neck and tossed her off the ramp into the barricade.
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Tommaso Ciampa and Timothy Thatcher cut a promo. They said that in 48 hours, they’d show everyone how dangerous they are.
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Before the match, Ted DiBiase discussed the history and legacy of the Million Dollar Championship. He made an entrance and watched the match from ringside.
Million Dollar Championship ladder match: LA Knight defeated Cameron Grimes (19:33)
This was the worst ladder match in TakeOver history.
After a strong lockup, Knight took down Grimes with a shoulder block. Grimes popped up and taunted before outwrestling Knight for a couple sequences. Knight rolled ot the floor and tossed in a ladder before sending Grimes to the floor. He tried to throw the ladder at Grimes, but Grimes avoided it before falling victim to a clothesline.
Knight set a ladder up in the ring and both men climbed it, but Knight sent Grimes to the floor. They fought over a ladder before Knight grabbed another. They had a ladder fight until Grimes booted Knight to the floor. They fought over a ladder yet again, with Grimes getting the advantage by pushing the Knight and the ladder into the barricade. He followed it up with a soccer kick.
Grimes opted to take the fight to Knight on the floor, but Knight sent Grimes into the barricade and smashed him with the ladder. Knight continued to send Grimes into ringside objects until Grimes turned it around. Knight popped up and took Grimes down yet again. I know this report sounds redundant and repetitive, but there was no ebb or flow to the match early on, just unfocused brawling.
Back in the ring, Knight hit a slingshot shoulder block. Grimes countered with a German suplex into a ladder. He tried to follow it up with a ladder attack, but Knight moved out of the way and hit a neckbraker onto a propped-up ladder. That looked terrible.
Grimes tried to make a comeback with right hands, but Knight sent him into a ladder. Knight leaned a ladder against the ropes before propping another one up on the top turnbuckle. Grimes reversed a whip and sent Knight face-first into the latter ladder. He laid in kicks, but Knight pulled Grimes’ hair, sending him hard to the mat. Grimes countered a running attack with a back body drop onto a ladder.
Knight was sent over the top rope onto a ladder bridge. Grimes went after a gold ladder on the stage and brought it to the ring. He climbed it and made it to the belt, but Knight met him at the top. Knight fell off, but was able to push the ladder over, sending Grimes crashing to the mat.
After a long double down, Knight set up more ladders to create a bridge over the ropes. Grimes surprised him with a thrust kick, but Knight hid behind DiBiase’s security, allowing him to take Grimes out. Knight whipped Grimes into a ladder, but Grimes climbed it and then grabbed onto some staging when Knight pushed the ladder away. Grimes then leapt off the staging with a crossbody.
Grimes climbed the gold ladder in the ring. Knight tried to powerbomb him out of the ring, but Grimes turned it into a hurricanrana. Grimes shouted “to the moon!” and nearly reached the championship, but Knight pushed the ladder over, sending Grimes onto the bridge from before. Knight then unhooked the belt to win the championship.
– Knight celebrated with the Million Dollar Man afterwards.
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Pettengill tried to advertise the WWE Shop, but was interrupted by Hit Row. They plugged their new song, “Now You Know.”
This was a very good match and a nice showcase for Moon, who is one of the more underrated talents on the roster.
Moon came out firing with strikes, but Gonzalez planted her to the mat on a crossbody attempt. Moon countered the one-armed powerbomb with a hurricanrana, sending Gonzalez into the turnbuckle, but Gonzalez sent Moon into the barricade on a shoulder block. Out on the floor, Gonzalez continued to dominate.
Back in the ring, Gonzalez maintained control until Moon kicked her way out of a corner attack. She went for a diving codebreaker, but Gonzalez caught it and planted Moon with a sidewalk slam. A twisting Vader bomb followed for two. Moon tried to fight back with strikes before a thrust kick caught Gonzalez under the jaw. Another series of kicks staggered Gonzalez before a forearm finally took the champion down.
Moon hit a Code Red for two. She locked on a modified deathlock until Kai assisted Gonzalez by helping her reach the ropes. Gonzalez and Kai regrouped on the floor, so Moon took the champion out with a tope suicida. Back in the ring, a flatliner from Moon got two.
Kai distracted Moon while the latter climbed the ropes, allowing Gonzalez to take control with a superplex. Gonzalez went for her one-armed powerbomb, but Moon cradled her for two. Gonzalez came back with a big boot for a near fall of her own. She went for an inverted suplex, but Moon turned it into a modified Eclipse.
Moon gained some separation with a jawbreaker and followed it up with a diving Codebreaker. The Eclipse followed, but Kai put Gonzalez’s foot on the ropes. Shotzi Blackheart appeared to chase off Kai, sending her into the staging and bringing her backstage.
Gonzalez fled to the apron, where Moon climbed the ropes and hit a tornado DDT on the ramp. Moon rolled Gonzalez into the ring, where Gonzalez kicked out at two. She went for another Eclipse, but Gonzalez caught her and hit Snake Eyes in the corner. The one-armed powerbomb followed for the win.
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Another Pettengill comedy segment aired. He was about to play Karate Fighters, and his opponent was Dexter Lumis. Pettengill asked how the women were treating Lumis these days, so Lumis broke the game and smashed Pettengill’s piece in his hand.
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The NXT: Great American Bash TV special was announced for Tuesday, July 6 on USA.
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This week’s NXT lineup:
Tommaso Ciampa & Timothy Thatcher vs. Grizzled Young Veterans in a Tornado Tag Team Match
KUSHIDA’s Cruiserweight Championship Open Challenge
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NXT Championship Fatal 5-Way: Karrion Kross (c) (w/ Scarlett) defeated Adam Cole vs. Kyle O’Reilly vs. Johnny Gargano vs. Pete Dunne (26:25)
This was an insane spotfest from start to finish, with tons of great action. The crowd wasn’t super invested at the start but eventually got into it; however, they’re definitely not into Kross as champion.
While O’Reilly and Cole brawled on the floor, Kross and Dunne faced off in the ring. Dunne peppered him with leg kicks and went for a guillotine, but Kross caught him and hit a Northern Lights suplex. O’Reilly entered the fray and traded with Kross until a high kick gave Kross an opening. O’Reilly countered into a heel hook, which Kross fought out of, hitting a German.
Gargano was next for Kross. He went for the Garga-No Escape before chopping down Kross’s leg and taking him down with a hurricanrana. Kross caught a corner attack and hit an exploder suplex. Cole immediately took advantage by kicking out Kross’s knee and hitting an enziguiri. Dunne pulled Cole out of the ring and trapped him between the apron and the skirt, allowing the entire field to beat him down.
Kross continued to dispatch all four opponents. He hit a double Northern Lights suplex on Dunne and Gargano before a lariat on O’Reilly got two. O’Reilly fought out of a powerbomb and landed muay thai strikes, finally taking Kross down. He laid in knees on Cole before mounting him and going for an armbar. Dunne locked on an armbar on O’Reilly before Gargano tried to get involved. Dunne attacked the fingers of both O’Reilly and Gargano before Kross powerbombed him onto both men.
Cole retreated to the ramp, where Kross wanted a fight. Dunne and Gargano got involved, sending him through the door of the In Your House stage. In the ring, a leg lariat from Cole took down O’Reilly, followed by the ushigoroshi for two. Gargano hit an enziguiri on O’Reilly before propping Cole in the tree of woe over O’Reilly in the corner. Dunne surprised Gargano with a roll-up, but Gargano turned the Bitter End into a DDT before throwing Dunne into the corner with a lawn dart through Cole and O’Reilly for two.
Gargano went for his end of #DIY, but a parade of strikes from Cole, Gargano, Dunne, and O’Reilly led to a quadruple down. O’Reilly caught a Cole thrust kick and applied an ankle lock, but Cole kicked out of it, sending O’Reilly into Kross. Kross sent both O’Reilly and Cole over the barricade before a double-hand powerbomb sent Gargano into the ring apron. He tossed Dunne onto the pile on the outside.
It was just Kross and Gargano in the ring. Kross hit an F-5 for two. Gargano made a comeback with a tornado DDT, using Cole as an assist, before taking out O’Reilly with a tope suicida. He followed it up with a spear on Kross and a diving DDT on Dunne but was met with a superkick from Cole. Gargano avoided the Last Shot and locked on the Garga-No Escape, but Cole fought out and countered a slingshot spear with a thrust kick. Gargano countered the Panama Sunrise into belly-to-back driver for two.
O’Reilly was taken out with stereo kicks from Gargano and Dunne, then Cole and Gargano took out Dunne, then O’Reilly and Gargano took out Cole as O’Reilly covered for two. Kross entered the ring and hit corner clotheslines on all four opponents before eating lariats from everyone. O’Reilly briefly got the upper hand on everyone until Kross took him out with a lariat.
Kross hit German suplexes on everyone. Dunne flipped out of one, allowing everyone to hit kicks to Kross’s head. Cole and O’Reilly paused their rivalry to try to powerbomb Kross through the announce desk, which didn’t break. The four challengers faced off in the ring. Gargano and Dunne hit stereo superkicks, then Dunne and O’Reilly both applied submissions. They dropped their victims and traded strikes, with O’Reilly dropping Dunne with a forearm. Dunne transitioned into a standing kimura before a triangle hold, with Gargano taking them down with a slingshot spear. A ushigoroshi from Cole on O’Reilly got two.
Cole and Dunne exchanged forearms in the ring. Dunne went for his corner backflip, which Cole and Gargano countered with superkicks. Gargano locked both Cole and Dunne in the Garga-No Escape, but O’Reilly broke it up. He and Gargano had a strike exchange, with O’Reilly finishing it with a brainbuster. He climebed to the top but was sent to the floor by Cole, who hit the Panama Sunrise on Gargano, but Dunne pulled him out of the ring and killed him with a brainbuster on the floor.
Kross popped up from the announce desk as Dunne invited him in for a fight. Dunne unleashed on Kross, forcing him to cover up, but Kross hit a German. Dunne hit one of his own, followed by the Bitter End, but Kross kicked out for a great near fall. Dunne immediately locked on a triangle, but the other three broke up the hold.
Dunne dispatched his opponents with kicks before catching a low blow and going for the finger-break spot. Kross broke it up with a double Doomsday Saito. The Kross Jacket followed, but Dunne snapped Kross’s fingers to break out of the hold. Gargano hit One Final Beat on Dunne, but Kross locked on the Kross Jacket on Gargano. Gargano jackknifed over for a cradle for two, but Kross maintained the hold. Cole hit the Last Shot on Kross but was subsequently chopped down by O’Reilly, who hit the diving knee on Kross. Cole broke up the cover with a superkick.
O’Reilly avoided the Last Shot and locked on the heel hook. After a long fight, Kross locked the Kross Jacket on O’Reilly, with the hold still locked on Cole. O’Reilly faded, relinquished the heel hook, and passed out for the referee stoppage as Kross retained.
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An interviewer caught up to William Regal to ask about the events of In Your House. He said he’d been GM for seven years, and he’s never seen so much bedlam. “I think it’s time for a change.”
WWE has announced a couple of additions to the lineup for NXT’s TakeOver: In Your House go-home show.
– At Sunday’s TakeOver event, Karrion Kross will defend his NXT Championship against Kyle O’Reilly, Pete Dunne, Johnny Gargano, and Adam Cole in a fatal five-way match. But before that match happens, there will be a face-off segment with Kross and his challengers on this Tuesday’s NXT episode.
A triple threat match between O’Reilly, Dunne, and Gargano on last week’s NXT had originally been set to determine Kross’ challenger for TakeOver: In Your House, but Cole interrupted the match and attacked all three wrestlers. Cole cut a promo on Kross later in the show, which led to Kross confronting Cole. Kross told NXT general manager William Regal that he wanted to face all four of O’Reilly, Dunne, Gargano, and Cole at TakeOver.
– WWE is also hyping that Ted DiBiase will make a “Priceless Announcement” on this Tuesday’s NXT. The announcement comes in advance of Cameron Grimes facing LA Knight at TakeOver: In Your House.
Grimes and Knight have each been vying for DiBiase to choose them as the wrestler to carry on his Million Dollar legacy. A distraction by Grimes on last week’s NXT caused Knight to lose a match against Jake Atlas. When he was interviewed backstage after the match, DiBiase said Knight dropped the ball but Grimes showed that it takes both brains and brawn.
DiBiase’s Million Dollar Championship appears on the poster for TakeOver: In Your House, but WWE has yet to confirm the return of the title or that it’s going to play a part in Grimes and Knight’s match at TakeOver.
Here’s the updated lineup for this Tuesday’s NXT:
Face-off with NXT Champion Karrion Kross, Kyle O’Reilly, Pete Dunne, Johnny Gargano, and Adam Cole
Ember Moon vs. Dakota Kai
Oney Lorcan vs. Austin Theory
Isaiah “Swerve” Scott vs. Killian Dain
Grammy-nominated pop-rock and nu-metal artist Poppy returns to NXT
Adam Cole returning to NXT tonight led to a fatal five-way title match being announced for NXT’s next TakeOver event.
Karrion Kross will defend his NXT Championship against Kyle O’Reilly, Pete Dunne, Johnny Gargano, and Cole in a fatal five-way match at TakeOver: In Your House. The show is taking place on Sunday, June 13.
A triple threat match between O’Reilly, Dunne, and Gargano on tonight’s show was supposed to decide Kross’ challenger for TakeOver, but it ended in a no contest as part of an angle where Cole returned and took out all three wrestlers. A furious William Regal then made his way out with security. Cole hit a superkick on O’Reilly before Regal and security finally got him to go to the back.
Cole appeared again later in the show and said that he wants the NXT Championship back. He called Kross a “big, overrated musclehead” who doesn’t deserve to be in the same ring as him. Kross then came out to the ring and confronted Cole.
Kross said Cole’s motives in getting involved in the triple threat match were understandable. But Kross said that when he signed with NXT, Cole stopped being special. Cole said NXT has done everything in their power to make Kross feel special — but all they have to do to make Cole feel special is ring the bell. Cole said Kross isn’t on his level and anyone who watches pro wrestling knows that. Cole said Kross is just a guy who has his property.
Regal said he could see what Cole was doing and it wasn’t going to work, but Kross told Regal that he wants to face everyone at TakeOver: In Your House. Kross said to give him O’Reilly, Dunne, Gargano, and Cole. Regal agreed to make the match.
This was just the second time Cole has appeared on NXT since losing to O’Reilly in an unsanctioned match at April’s TakeOver: Stand & Deliver. A sit-down interview with Cole aired on the April 27 episode of the show.
Kross won the NXT Championship from Finn Balor at TakeOver: Stand & Deliver. He’s made one title defense since then, retaining against Balor in a rematch last week.
The NXT Championship match for TakeOver: In Your House will become official tonight.
On tonight’s NXT, Kyle O’Reilly, Pete Dunne, and Johnny Gargano will face off in a triple threat match to determine Karrion Kross’ challenger for TakeOver. The triple threat match will kick off tonight’s show.
Last week, Kross retained the NXT Championship by defeating Finn Balor in a rematch from TakeOver: Stand & Deliver. It was Kross’ first title defense since becoming champion.
The NXT Tag Team titles will be on the line tonight. MSK (Wes Lee & Nash Carter) will defend their titles against Legado del Fantasma’s Raul Mendoza & Joaquin Wilde.
MSK won the then-vacant NXT Tag Team titles by defeating The Grizzled Young Veterans (Zack Gibson & James Drake) and Mendoza & Wilde in a triple threat match at TakeOver: Stand & Deliver. Following TakeOver, Legado del Fantasma (Santos Escobar, Mendoza & Wilde) picked up a win against Kushida & MSK in a six-man tag match.
Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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The show is opening with a triple threat match to determine a number one contender for TakeOver.
Pete Dunne vs. Johnny Gargano vs. Kyle O’Reilly ended in a no contest
Adam Cole ran in to attack everyone, and the match was thrown out. Great match until the run-in, which would seem to set up another match.
The three way dance started with a slugfest. Gargano was sent outside. He jumped back in when O’Reilly was trying to catch Dunne in an armbar. Instead of offense, Gargano was quickly on defense as O’Reilly instead trapped him in an armbar. Dunne kept jumping in to pick the bones while the other two grappled against each other. Lots of cool grappling, and a different psychology that was much more fluid than a usual WWE-style thriple threat.
Tons of spots playing off all three as they fought through a commercial break. Gagrano was out of the ring selling just before the show was set to return from the break. Meanwhile, Dunne was working over O’Reilly. All three face off as the show comes back from commercial. O’Reilly fired up, and he cleaned house.
O’Reilly wtih a diving knee off the apron, but Gargano hit him with a tope. Gargano with two more tope dives through the ropes. Slingshot spear by Gargano for a near fall on O’Reilly. Dunne broke up a backslide competition with several kicks. Dunne with an X-plex on Gargano for a two and a half count. Dunne went to trap O’Reilly in a kimura, but Gargano breaks it up. O’Reilly with a leglock on Gargano, but Dunne is back to break up the hold.
Gargano countered a Bitter End to deliver a swinging DDT on Dunne. Sending Dunne crashing into O’Reilly like a lawn dart, Gargano gets a near fall on Dunne. The built to all three throwing kicks, hitting big moves, and rocking each other with strikes. Triple down. They arose for a triple sleeper spot. Gargano was caught in a sleeper from O’Reilly, but Dunne rushed in to catch O’Reilly in a sleeper. Gargano comes back in with La Mistica into the Gargano Escape submission finisher. Dunne snapped Gargano’s fingers to break the hold.
Dunne delivered a Bitter End on Gargano, and Dunne went for a cover. O’Reilly broke the count with a bombs away flying knee drop. Double clothesline on the floor leave O’Reilly and Dunne down at ringside. Suddenly, Adam Cole ran down to ringside with a metal folding chair like he was Balls Mahoney. Cole first hits O’Reilly with the chair, and Cole then hit Dunne with a chair to the back. Cole flings the chair at Gargano’s head.
Cole is wrecking the place, hitting alomst everyone moving at ringside. Officials pour out to break up the melee. Dunne and Cole start brawling, and Cole give Dunne a brainbuster on the floor. Cole delivers a Last Shot to O’Reilly on the floor. Cole measures Gargano in the ring, and Cole delivered another Last Shot. William Regal storms to ringside angry with Cole. Regal was steaming, but Cole had to get one more shot in on O’Reilly. Cole then left ringside, leaving destruction in his wake.
El Legado del Fantasma cut a promo that was a “WWE Network Exclusive,” which is odd. It’s not very exclusive to the WWE Network when it’s also airing on national cable television. Also, WWE Network? That still a thing? I guess outside the United Stated it is, but this is airing live in the US.
LA Knight introduced himself and cut a promo on the way to the ring.
In a pre-tape skit, Hit Row got into a verbal argument with Drake Maverick. Killian Dain stepped in to get in Swerve’s face.
Jake Atlas defeated LA Knight
Atlas pinned Knight after a distraction by Cameron Grimes.
“Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase walked to ringside to watch the match, presumably to scout Knight. The match went through a commercial break, with Knight maintaining an advantage. Atlas fired up after the show returned from the break, but Knight soon cut him off. Knight was then cut off himself moments later.
Atlas with a comeback, and as Atlas was getting a near fall out comes Cameron Grimes. DiBiase is joined at ringside by Grimes, who rants and rambles at the Million Dollar Man. Knight tripped up Atlas, only for Grimes to distract Knight. Atlas is able to shove Knight off the turnbuckles, and Knight crotched himself on the top rope. Atlas executed a cartwheel DDT, and he covered Knight for a pinfall.
McKenzie Mitchell interviewed DiBiase backstage after the match. DiBiase said that Knight dropped the ball tonight, but DiBiase bragged on Grimes. Adam Cole appeared again suddenly as he stormed past the camera headed to the ring.
NXT Champion confronts Cole
Cole cut a promo in the ring. Two years ago to the day he became NXT Champion. Cole claimed today to be the real number one cotender. Cole brought up the current NXT Champion, who is Karrion Kross. Cole called him a “meathead,” among other things.
Kross, with Scarlett, interrupted Cole’s promo. Kross confronted Cole face-to-face in the ring. Kross called him a “little man,” and Cole soon responded by calling Kross “overrated.” William Regal was really busy tonight. He came out again to trying to say he knew what Cole was doing. Kross yelled at Regal to shut up. Kross said he wants to face everyone at TakeOver. Kross wants to face the three challengers from the triple threat earlier, and he wants to face Cole too. Looks like a fatal five way title match as the main evetn of TakeOver.
Candice LeRae was finally back on the show this week. LeRae was with Indi Hartwell for an interview. They are still the NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions. Hartwell was listening to music via headphones. LeRae took the headphones off Hartwell to ask what was up. Hartwell was listening to 1980s power ballads. Later in the show, Dexter Lumis found the headphones and music player. A tear rolled down his cheek as he listened to the ’80s ballads.
A vignette hyped the debut of Carmelo Hayes. He vowed to be the next cruiserweight champ. He faces Kushdia tonight in an open challenge.
NXT Cruiserweight Champion Kushida defeated Carmelo Hayes to retain his title
Kushida submitted Hayes using the Hoverboard Lock.
Hayes with plenty of offense in the first half of the match, which made Hayes look strong. They match went through a commercial break, with Hayes getting a near fall as the show cuts away.
Kushida comes back after the break, but he is soon cut off by Hayes with a springboard in a clothesline of sorts. Hayes with a modified La Mistica for a near fall.
Kushida fired up with a flurry of his signature offense. Kushida went on to apply the Hoverboard Lock, and Hayes tapped out.
During the previous match, announced officially for TakeOver is Cameron Grimes vs. LA Knight. Also official for TakeOver is the fatal five way for the NXT Championship.
Franky Monet was in getting her makeup down. She read some tweets that put her over, and Monet said she was just getting started in NXT. Presley was there, too. He was a good boy.
NXT Tag Team Champions Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell defeated Zoey Stark & Zayda Ramier in a non-title match
Hartwell pinned Ramier to win the match. For the finish, the champs executed a combo called Wicked Savage. It combines a curb stomb by LeRae (which is called a Wicked Stepsister), and a springboard flying elbow drop (similar to Randy Savage without the springboard). Due to technical difficulties I missed most of this match, but things cleared up just in time for the finish.
Mercedes Martinez cut a promo on Xia Li. Martinez mentioned how she defeated Li in the Mae Young Classic. Lools like these two are set for another match very soon.
The Diamond Mine is “opening soon” in NXT.
Ember Moon in a backstage interview cut a promo on Raquel Gonzalez. Moon has a singles match against Dakota Kai next week, and Moon vowed to take the NXT Women’s Championship from Gonzalez at TakeOver.
Poppy returns to NXT next week.
NXT Tag Team Champions MSK (Wes Lee and Nash Carter) defeated Legado del Fantasma (Raul Mendoza & Joaquin Wilde with Santos Escobar) to retain their titles
Lee pinned Wilde to retain the titles. Really good match with lots of action, escpially near the finish.
Mendoza wore a mask that looked like The Lone Ranger, or maybe it was more like a Jimmy Jack Funk mask since this is pro wrestling after all. It might have been a protective mask. Not sure, but he wore it the entire match.
Really good match. They did some cool double team moves, and the flying amongst these guys was a highlight of course. Grizzled Young Veterans came down to ringside briefly during the match. They were not long, because Tommaso Ciampa & Timothy Thatcher ran down to attack them. They fought the Vets back through the curtain from which they came.
The match went through a commercial break, and the heels were getting heat on Lee as the show returns. Carter came in off a hot tag to run wild. Lee is back in moments later as they run through some double team moves. So much for getting heat on Lee. He looked fresh, even after getting worked over earlier.
While Lee was running wild on Wilde he was unaware that Mendoza was actually the legal man. Mendoza springboarded off the top rope to nail Lee with a missiled dropkick. That led to a near fall for Mendoza.
Lee was sent outside the ring, and he landed at the feet of Santos Escobar. Interfering in the match, Escobar sent Lee crashing into the ring steps. That led to a near fall where Cater jumped in to make a save.
Bronson Reed ran in at ringside to splash Escobar, sandwiching him into the barricade. Mendoza & Wilde were on a roll before this, but Reed’s running down disrtacted them. MSK capitalized with a double team finisher. The Hart Attack/Blockbuster combo on Wilde led to Lee covering him for a pinfall.
WWE has announced a few additions to the lineup for next week’s NXT.
Shotzi Blackheart & Ember Moon will face NXT Women’s Champion Raquel Gonzalez & Dakota Kai in a tag team match on NXT next Tuesday. The show will also feature Bobby Fish’s return to in-ring action as he faces Pete Dunne.
Plus, there will be a “Million Dollar Face-Off” segment with Cameron Grimes and “Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase on NXT next Tuesday. DiBiase distracted Grimes tonight and caused him to lose a match against Jake Atlas. DiBiase had appeared in videos each of the past three weeks where he used his wealth to upstage Grimes.
Blackheart & Moon and Gonzalez & Kai are looking to get the first shot at Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell’s NXT Women’s Tag Team titles. Gonzalez & Kai were the inaugural NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions, but they lost the titles to Blackheart & Moon on the same night that the titles were introduced. LeRae & Hartwell became NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions by defeating Blackheart & Moon in a street fight two weeks ago.
Gonzalez retained her NXT Women’s Championship against Mercedes Martinez on NXT last week. In a post-show video, Gonzalez went to Martinez and told Martinez that she respects her. Kai appeared to be angry that Gonzalez did that. Gonzalez and Kai accused interviewer McKenzie Mitchell of trying to start things when she asked them about it tonight. Kai said they can agree or disagree and still be friends.
Next week will be the first time Fish has wrestled since undergoing triceps surgery following the WarGames match where Undisputed Era defeated Pat McAfee, Dunne, Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch at TakeOver: WarGames last December.
Fish returned to NXT TV last week and saved Kyle O’Reilly from an attack by Dunne and Lorcan. O’Reilly thanked Fish for saving him, but he told Fish that he’s doing his own thing now. Fish said he has his own scores to settle too and will see O’Reilly when he sees him. Fish was interviewed on NXT tonight and said last week had little to do with O’Reilly and everything to do with getting revenge on Dunne and Lorcan for injuring him.
When asked about his goals during an interview on tonight’s NXT, Dunne said it’s time for him to go after the NXT Championship.
Here’s the updated lineup for next Tuesday’s NXT:
NXT Champion Karrion Kross defends against Finn Balor
Franky Monet’s in-ring debut
Shotzi Blackheart & Ember Moon vs. Raquel Gonzalez & Dakota Kai
Bobby Fish vs. Pete Dunne
Cameron Grimes-Ted DiBiase Million Dollar Face-Off
An interview segment has been added to the lineup for this week’s episode of NXT.
Sports writer and radio host Arash Markazi posted a tweet today announcing that he’ll be conducting a one-on-one interview with Pete Dunne on this Tuesday’s NXT. Markazi also appeared on the pre-show panel for TakeOver: Stand & Deliver last month and later conducted a sit-down interview with Adam Cole on the April 27 episode of NXT.
“JUST CONFIRMED: Tomorrow night I will sit down with one of the biggest Superstars in @WWENXT. My exclusive one-on-one interview with the Bruiserweight, @PeteDunneYxB, will be on #WWENXT,” Markazi wrote.
On NXT two weeks ago, Dunne was one of three wrestlers who interrupted NXT Champion Karrion Kross. Kyle O’Reilly, Dunne, and Finn Balor all interrupted Kross, which led to a brawl breaking out.
It was announced on NXT last week that Kross will defend his NXT Championship against Balor on the Tuesday, May 25 episode of NXT. Dunne later cut a promo where he accused Kross of ducking him. Dunne called himself the baddest man in NXT and said the NXT Championship will soon be his. Dunne then defeated Leon Ruff after Ruff answered his open challenge.
O’Reilly defeated Oney Lorcan on last week’s NXT but was attacked by Dunne and Lorcan after the match. The returning Bobby Fish then made the save for O’Reilly. O’Reilly thanked Fish for helping him, but he told Fish that he’s doing his own thing now. Fish said he has his own scores to settle too and will see O’Reilly when he sees him.
Here’s the updated lineup for this Tuesday’s NXT:
Steel cage match: NXT North American Champion Johnny Gargano defends against Bronson Reed
Zoey Stark vs. Toni Storm
“Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase appears live at the Capitol Wrestling Center
WWE has announced a couple of new additions to the lineup for NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver.
Pete Dunne vs. Kushida has been announced for TakeOver: Stand & Deliver night one. At TakeOver: Stand & Deliver night two, NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions Shotzi Blackheart & Ember Moon will defend their titles against Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell.
In the main event of tonight’s NXT, Dunne and Kushida simultaneously eliminated each other from the battle royal to determine the participants for the Gauntlet Eliminator match at TakeOver: Stand & Deliver night one. Kushida then refused to let go of a Hoverboard Lock that he had Dunne locked in.
There had been a segment earlier on tonight’s NXT where Dunne interrupted an interview with Kushida. Dunne took exception to Kushida calling himself the best technical wrestler in the world last week. Dunne said he already holds that crown and dared Kushida to answer his challenge and try to prove him wrong.
The NXT Women’s Tag Team title match was announced for TakeOver: Stand & Deliver after a challenge that was issued by LeRae & Hartwell tonight. LeRae & Hartwell defeated Gigi Dolin & the debuting Zayda Ramier (formerly known as AQA) on tonight’s show and then challenged Blackheart & Moon to an NXT Women’s Tag Team title match at TakeOver. Blackheart & Moon came out in Blackheart’s tank and accepted the challenge.
Blackheart & Moon defeated LeRae & Hartwell in the semifinals of the women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic last month. In the finals, Blackheart & Moon lost to Dakota Kai & Raquel Gonzalez. Kai & Gonzalez later became the inaugural NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions when they were awarded the titles, but Blackheart & Moon defeated them to win the titles that same night.
TakeOver: Stand & Deliver is taking place on Wednesday, April 7 and Thursday, April 8. Night one will air live on the USA Network and will also simulcast live on Peacock in the United States and on the WWE Network everywhere else. Night two will be live on Peacock in the United States and live on the WWE Network everywhere else. Here are the updated cards for the event:
TakeOver: Stand & Deliver night one —
NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai defends against Raquel Gonzalez
NXT United Kingdom Champion WALTER defends against Tommaso Ciampa
Triple threat match for the vacant NXT Tag Team titles: MSK (Wes Lee & Nash Carter) vs, The Grizzled Young Veterans (Zack Gibson & James Drake) vs. Legado Del Fantasma (Raul Mendoza & Joaquin Wilde)
Gauntlet Eliminator match to determine NXT North American Champion Johnny Gargano’s challenger for TakeOver: Stand & Deliver night two (Leon Ruff, Isaiah “Swerve” Scott, Bronson Reed, Cameron Grimes, Dexter Lumis, and LA Knight are the Gauntlet Eliminator participants)
Pete Dunne vs. Kushida
TakeOver: Stand & Deliver night two —
NXT Champion Finn Balor defends against Karrion Kross
Unsanctioned match: Adam Cole vs. Kyle O’Reilly
Ladder match to determine undisputed NXT Cruiserweight Champion: Jordan Devlin vs. Santos Escobar
NXT North American Champion Johnny Gargano defends against the winner of the Gauntlet Eliminator match from night one
NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions Shotzi Blackheart & Ember Moon defend against Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell
Ahead of their title match at Sunday’s TakeOver: Vengeance Day event, NXT Champion Finn Balor and Pete Dunne are set to meet face-to-face.
WWE has announced that Balor and Dunne will take part in a face-to-face segment on tonight’s TakeOver: Vengeance Day go-home edition of NXT. Balor and Dunne were interrupted by men’s Royal Rumble winner Edge on last week’s NXT, with Edge teasing that he could challenge for the NXT Championship at WrestleMania 37. Edge spoke about how NXT inspired him to return to the ring after he was forced to retire in 2011 and said that — if he hasn’t decided by TakeOver — Balor vs. Dunne could make his WrestleMania decision for him.
WWE has also made a couple of additional announcements for tonight’s NXT. Xia Li will be in action on the show, but her opponent hasn’t been announced. Karrion Kross and Scarlett will also appear tonight.
On last week’s NXT, a video aired explaining the origin story of Tian Sha and its leader Mei Ying. Li and Boa are part of Tian Sha with Ying.
After Santos Escobar had mentioned Kross’ name in a promo, Escobar received a tarot card as a warning from Kross and Scarlett two weeks ago. Scarlett then watched on as Escobar retained his NXT Cruiserweight Championship against Curt Stallion last Wednesday. Kross laid out Legado Del Fantasma’s Raul Mendoza and Joaquin Wilde after the match and confronted Escobar.
Kross also confronted Edge last week as Edge was leaving the building. Kross warned Edge that if he decides to challenge for the NXT Championship, it will be Kross who he’s facing after Kross defeats Balor or Dunne to win the title.
Here’s the updated lineup for tonight’s NXT:
Men’s Dusty Classic semifinal match: Tommaso Ciampa & Timothy Thatcher vs. The Grizzled Young Veterans (Zack Gibson & James Drake)
Men’s Dusty Classic semifinal match: MSK (Wes Lee & Nash Carter) vs. Legado Del Fantasma (Raul Mendoza & Joaquin Wilde)
Women’s Dusty Classic semifinal match: Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell vs. Shotzi Blackheart & Ember Moon
Face-to-face segment with NXT Champion Finn Balor and Pete Dunne
Two title matches have been added to the card for NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day.
WWE has confirmed that NXT Champion Finn Balor will defend his title against Pete Dunne at TakeOver: Vengeance Day on Sunday, February 14. Kushida challenging for Johnny Gargano’s NXT North American Championship has also been made official for the show.
Balor and Dunne took part in a segment on NXT tonight that was interrupted by men’s Royal Rumble winner Edge. Edge spoke about how watching NXT helped him find the passion to get his career back after nine years. Edge said he used that passion to win the Royal Rumble — and that allows hin to challenge any champion in the company. He called Balor and Dunne two of the best and said he’d be watching their match at TakeOver.
Edge said that if he hasn’t decided which title he’ll be challenging for at WrestleMania 37 by TakeOver: Vengeance Day — Balor vs. Dunne may cause him to make his choice. Karrion Kross later confronted Edge as he was leaving the building and warned Edge that it’ll be Kross he’s facing after Kross takes the NXT Championship from Balor or Dunne.
Gargano was informed during an interview on NXT tonight that he’ll be defending his North American Championship against Kushida at TakeOver: Vengeance Day. Gargano didn’t believe the news and went to go question NXT general manager William Regal about it, but Kushida was in Regal’s office when Gargano got there. Gargano attacked Kushida, but Kushida got the better of their brawl before it was broken up.
Here’s the updated card for TakeOver: Vengeance Day:
NXT Champion Finn Balor defends against Pete Dunne
NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai defends against Toni Storm and Mercedes Martinez in a triple threat match
NXT North American Champion Johnny Gargano defends against Kushida
Two matches have been announced for the final NXT episode of 2020.
WWE has announced that Johnny Gargano will defend his North American Championship against Leon Ruff on NXT next Wednesday (December 30). Roderick Strong vs. Pete Dunne is also set for the episode.
With help from Austin Theory, Gargano regained the North American Championship by defeating Ruff and Damian Priest in a triple threat match at TakeOver: WarGames earlier this month. Gargano had lost the title to Ruff in November. In storyline, Gargano was trying to break his title defense curse by facing Ruff. Ruff got the win after a distraction by Priest.
Next week’s Gargano vs. Ruff match will be the first title defense of Gargano’s current North American title reign. He’s a three-time North American Champion.
Ruff got another surprise win on NXT tonight when he pinned Timothy Thatcher with a cradle as Thatcher was going for a submission. Thatcher had promised to take liberties with Ruff and told Tommaso Ciampa to come and fight him. Thatcher attacked Ruff after the match until Ciampa made the save.
Gargano & Theory defeated Ruff & Kushida in a tag team match on last week’s NXT. Theory pinned Ruff in that match. The Way (Gargano, Candice LeRae, Indi Hartwell, and Theory) didn’t appear in person on this week’s show, but they were featured in multiple “A Very Gargano Christmas” segments.
After losing to Kyle O’Reilly last week in a match to decide NXT Champion Finn Balor’s challenger for New Year’s Evil, Dunne attacked Strong at ringside during the Adam Cole vs. Velveteen Dream main event on tonight’s NXT. Dunne laid out Strong by hitting the Bitter End on the apron.
Next week’s NXT will also include the announcement of the 2020 NXT year-end awards. Plus, the episode will feature the final build to NXT New Year’s Evil. New Year’s Evil is taking place on Wednesday, January 6.
A number one contender’s match on last night’s episode of NXT determined NXT Champion Finn Balor’s challenger for New Year’s Evil.
Kyle O’Reilly booked his spot in the New Year’s Evil title match by defeating Pete Dunne last night. Dunne snapped O’Reilly’s fingers and was going for the Bitter End on the apron near the end of the match, but O’Reilly reversed and suplexed Dunne to the floor. O’Reilly then threw Dunne back in the ring and hit a knee strike from the top rope to get the win.
Paul “Triple H” Levesque tweeted after O’Reilly vs. Dunne: “Unbelievable match. From start to finish @KORCombat and @PeteDunneYxB tore the house down. Ready to see #BalorOReilly2 for the #NXTTItle at #NXTNYE … THIS IS #WWENXT!!!! #WeAreNXT”
Balor vs. O’Reilly is a rematch of the NXT TakeOver 31 main event. Balor retained against O’Reilly in that match but broke his jaw in two places in the process.
The New Year’s Evil episode of NXT is taking place on Wednesday, January 6. It was announced last night that Dexter Lumis will be the host of the event. Another match was also confirmed for New Year’s Evil, with Karrion Kross set to face off with Damian Priest. Kross returned to the ring last night and demolished Desmond Troy. After the match, Kross looked into the camera and challenged Priest for New Year’s Evil.
Last night’s main event saw Rhea Ripley take on Toni Storm. Storm got the win after Raquel Gonzalez interfered and threw Ripley into the ring post.
